O/T: Preserving old newspapers

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Posted By: John S

I picked up a couple of old sportspages on eBay and am seeking some opinions regarding display/preservation. Since the items were all under $25, would lamination be an option? Is this an acceptable practice for newspapers? I want to frame and display the pages, but don't want to spend 10x the value of the paper. Thanks in advance.

John

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

I'd not laminate.

If the paper is really old it will last a good while with no action on your part. Just keep it out of prolonged sunlight. The old papers have a higher rag content and are less acidic.

The "newer" old papers are acidic, and they turn brown with time. There is an archival spray that will neutralize that. It isn't cheap, nor expensive. I think it is the way to go. And I think someone will respond who knows more on this. This might work:

http://www.webyfl.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=42

Or something like it.

I'd not laminate. That's what was in the minds of folks who put clear tape over autographs or baseball cards years ago... from today's perspective, what do you think of that tape laminating?


Frank.

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Posted By: jackgoodman

1. Don't laminate.
2. I keep some in large plastic bags (several mills thick) that can be taped closed to create a fairly good seal.
3. Check the links above for a couple of companies that provide archival products - including the spray mentioned above.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Frank is right. Real old newspapers (like early 1800s) were made out of differernt paper that doesn't brown and deteriorate. Counterintuitively, a 1750 newspaper can be in much better shape, including much whiter, than a 1950 one. Though, I'm guessing your sports page isn't from 1750.

20th century newspapers are brittle and brown and deteriorate. There may be ways to help preserve them for show, but modern newspapers were born to go bad. Most 1800s Harper's baseball woodcuts are relatively stable.

One thing you can do is to make digital copies and print them out. Many home come computer printers print larger sizes. I did this with an 1870s woodcut of Cap Anson, so I could display it without worrying about
sunlight damage. It's still on the wall looking nice.